Labour Market Tracker: No clear slowdown in job advert numbers

• There were 216,257 new job postings in the week of 14-20 November – 40.6% higher comparing to a month earlier (17-23 October, which may have been affected by school half-terms) and only 0.4% lower than the week of 10-16 October
• The number of active postings has remained stable, with between 1.39 to 1.5 million active job adverts since mid-August
• Notable increases in adverts for jobs in domestic services, and the energy and retail sectors, including cleaners, energy plant operatives, and shopkeepers
• Three out of the UK’s top ten hiring hotspots in the week of 14-20 November were in the Northeast
• Four out of the UK’s bottom ten hiring hotspots were in Scotland.

The number of active job adverts across the UK has remained stable since mid-August. In the week of 14-20 November, there were over 1.4 million active job adverts, according to the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Lightcast’s latest Labour Market Tracker.

Vacancy levels remained high, suggesting that demand isn’t slowing.

Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the REC, said:

“While the data fluctuates from week to week, new jobs postings have averaged about the same level through the year, suggesting a pattern of strong and stable demand. Despite a wider narrative of concern about the economy, this reflects feedback from recruiters across the country who are saying that shortages mean demand is remaining high even as growth diminishes. It is worth noting that some of the strength in today’s figures is seasonal, however, with demand up in retail ahead of Christmas, and energy ahead of the winter.

“Last month’s Autumn Statement was a missed opportunity to help tackle skills shortages by reforming the Apprenticeship Levy. Making funding more flexible so businesses can use it for high quality shorter training courses and non-apprenticeship schemes would be a win-win for industry, workers and government. Businesses are also crying out for immigration that allows them to fill roles and fuel the economic growth we all want – addressing our labour shortage. Something has got to give - governments must make longer term skills and workforce planning a priority. Recruiters stand ready to play their part in that.”

 

Occupations with notable increases in job adverts include Energy Plant Operatives (+38.1%), Shopkeepers and Proprietors – Wholesale and Retail (+18.8%), and Cleaners and Domestics (+14.3%).

On the other hand, Pre-press Technicians (-8.3%) saw the biggest weekly decline in active job adverts. Market Research Interviewers (-5.5%) and Postal Workers (-5.3%) also saw a significant decline in active postings.

The North East saw growth in job postings in the week of 14-20 November – Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees (+16.2%), Darlington (+14.5%), and South Teesside (+14.3%).

At the other end of the scale, four out of the bottom ten local areas for growth in active job postings were in Scotland. Of those, East Dunbartonshire (-7.2%), Argyll and Bute (-2.6%), and Highland (-0.7%) saw the biggest falls.

 

Ends

Notes to editors:

1. The Labour Market Tracker is produced by the REC in partnership with Lightcast, using their Job Postings Analytics data which is harvested from tens of thousands of job boards. Data was harvested between 14 and 20 November 2022. For more details, see the attached annexes which, in league table format, detail the top and bottom ten county/unitary authorities for growth in job postings and growth by occupation type.
2. ‘Active’ job postings are those which were live online during the specified time period. ‘New’ job postings are those which were added to the active stock during the specified time period.

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About the REC

The REC is the voice of the recruitment industry, speaking up for great recruiters. We drive standards and empower recruitment businesses to build better futures for great candidates and themselves. We are champions of an industry which is fundamental to the strength of the UK economy.

Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com.

About Lightcast

Lightcast (formerly Emsi Burning Glass) provides trusted global labour market data, analytics, and expert guidance that empowers communities, corporations, and learning providers to make informed decisions and navigate the increasingly complex world of work. With a database of more than one billion job postings and career profiles, our team provides best-in-class customer service with robust data, clear analysis, and expert guidance on skills, jobs, and opportunities.  

Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, and Moscow, Idaho, Lightcast is active in more than 30 countries and has offices in the United Kingdom, Italy, New Zealand, and India. The company is backed by global private equity leader KKR. For more, visit www.lightcast.io/uk.

ANNEXES

Top ten and bottom ten county/unitary authorities for growth in job postings:

County/unitary authority	Unique active job postings, 14-20 November	Change in active job postings, 7-13 November to 14-20 November
Portsmouth	7,567	49.8%
East Cumbria	3,434	16.7%
Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees	2,346	16.2%
Blackburn with Darwen	3,065	16.2%
Kingston upon Hull, City of	4,366	15.9%
North and West Norfolk	1,833	14.7%
Darlington	2,091	14.5%
South Teesside	2,616	14.3%
Shropshire CC	3,855	12.9%
Plymouth	4,292	12.3%
-
Moray	1,190	-0.2%
Southwest Wales	4,019	-0.2%
Highland	4,399	-0.7%
Belfast	15,538	-0.7%
Causeway Coast and Glens	441	-1.8%
Argyll and Bute	1,007	-2.6%
Mid Ulster	984	-3.6%
Isle of Anglesey	340	-3.7%
Tower Hamlets	788	-4.6%
East Dunbartonshire	501	-7.2%

 

Top ten and bottom ten occupations by growth in job postings:

Occupation	Unique active job postings, 17-23 November	Change in active job postings, 10-16 November to 17-23 November
Energy Plant Operatives	330	38.1%
Shopkeepers and Proprietors – Wholesale and Retail	316	18.8%
Undertakers, Mortuary and Crematorium Assistants	418	18.1%
Weighers, Graders and Sorters	1,068	17.6%
Elementary Security Occupations	359	16.2%
Food, Drink and Tobacco Process Operatives	636	15.4%
Cleaners and Domestics	20,540	14.3%
TV, Video and Audio Engineers	351	14%
Dental Practitioners	1,646	12.9%
Authors, Writers and Translators	4,661	12.7%
-
Travel Agents	1,059	-0.6%
Higher Education Teaching Professionals	10,391	-0.7%
Hotel and Accommodation Managers and Proprietors	1,595	-0.8%
Childminders and Related Occupations	3,589	-1%
Officers in Armed Forces	522	-1.1%
Fitness Instructors	2,956	-1.7%
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers	11,852	-1.8%
Postal Workers, Mail Sorters, Messengers and Couriers	1,072	-5.3%
Market Research Interviewers	312	-5.5%
Pre-press Technicians	621	-8.3%

 

Key indicator occupations

Occupation	Unique active job postings, 17-23 November	Change in active job postings, 10-16 November to 17-23 November
Cleaners and Domestics	20,540	14.3%
Bar Staff	5,659	11.7%
Primary and Nursery Education Teaching Professionals	16,871	8.2%
Secondary Education Teaching Professionals	18,093	8.1%
Care Workers and Home Carers	64,764	7.9%
Carpenters and Joiners	3,956	7.6%
Chefs	25,721	5.0%
Waiters and Waitresses	8,137	4.7%
Metal Working Production and Maintenance Fitters	5,354	4.7%
Marketing Associate Professionals	20,804	4.3%
Nurses	56,942	4.0%
Mechanical Engineers	11,464	3.9%
Chartered and Certified Accountants	29,326	2.7%
Sales and Retail Assistants	20,116	2.5%
Programmers and Software Development Professionals	74,601	2.2%
Hairdressers and Barbers	1,580	2.2%
Fitness Instructors	2,956	-1.7%
Large Goods Vehicle Drivers	11,852	-1.8%